I was contacted by an individual regarding furniture I posted for sale on craigslists. He wanted to purchase my armoire and sent me the following 2 emails:
1st email: "Did you still have this item for sale..? Kindly get back to me ASAP"
I replied it was still available. (Note: I had only posted this item to craigs list less than an hour or so before this first email.)
2nd email: "Thanks for getting back to me. I really appreciate your response to my earlier mail. Like i said i will like to buy this item so pls do withdraw the advert from Craigslist. I will also like you to know that i will be paying by check due to the fact that i will not be able to meet up with the cash and local pick up. I will have my mover to come for the pickup as soon as the check cleared and cashed. I will need you to provide me with the following information to facilitate the mailing of the check.
1. Your full name
2. Your mailing address be it residential or office address.
3. Your phone number.
Hope to hear back from you."
I immediately became suspicious in a buyer who would want to buy an item sight unseen without asking any questions. A buyer who would agree to send payment for an item without trying to protect their own interest shows a lack of better judgement - again raising a red flag. The grammar and mis-spellings obviously a person lacking education or a better grasp of the English language again raised red flags. I replied to the last message the terms of the sale were cash only. No other explaination. But all these red flags led me to google "Smith Cole" and I found several negative reports associated with "Smith Cole" frauds and attempted frauds with other sellers throughout the USA on Craigslists. I agree with previous posts to use common sense, listen to your gut and do your research.in this day and age we have access to much more information. Use it. Thanks to the complaint with providing us this space to post alerts.
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